Aspen Ridge death update: Another ex-worker witnessed ‘a lot of neglect’; state agency seeks tougher staffing rules
(Update: adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Aspen Ridge Memory Care in Bend has been categorized as putting residents in "immediate jeopardy condition" by the Oregon Department of Human Services, in the wake of a resident's recent tragic death.
As NewsChannel 21 recently reported, on an over 90-degree day in late August, a resident wearing a fleece jacket was left in the courtyard for two hours and later died. The state pointed to understaffing as a key factor in what occurred.
We've since spoken with another former caregiver at Aspen Ridge, Morgan Cheyenne Crocker, who said she witnessed "a lot of neglect, like they would leave residents there (who) were unable to walk or do anything for themselves, keep them in the room. They would always leave them in their dirty clothes, not get them dressed yet.“
Crocker worked at Aspen Ridge for two months in 2023. She says she was fired after reporting neglect to her boss.
“They had an investigation going because I pointed out something wrong with the resident," Crocker said. ”We were told to 'hush, don't say nothing about it. Don't talk to your coworkers about it.'"
Crocker noticed shortcomings when she was hired.
"They did not have any management, when I started working there," she said. "So it was a lot of lack of communication with the staff-wise. I feel like they were not trained enough. Two days is not enough."
Limited staffing at care facilities is not uncommon in Oregon, according to Fred Steele, director of the state's long-term care ombudsman office, who oversees efforts to uphold the rights of residents.
"Oregon and nationally, there's a need for more caregivers. This is why it's so critical that our Legislature put forward staffing requirements," Steele told us.
Legislation from 2021 addresses staffing requirements, but doesn't include a staff-to-resident ratio. Instead, an acuity-based staffing tool is used, which determines the amount of care required at a facility, based on the needs of residents.
"When a facility is failing to accomplish that, that's when there needs to be the conditions put in place, or in the case of Aspen Ridge," Steele said.
Conditions for improvement are placed on facilities to encourage staffing compliance, rather than shutting down a facility. In the case of Aspen Ridge, the state temporarily put staff at the facility to oversee patient care. Closing a facility is up to the Oregon Department of Human Services, but is a rare occurrence.
"We don't necessarily want to see facilities closed," Steele said. "Because this is somebody's home, so where they live. But if you can't as an owner, as a provider ensure proper staffing levels, maybe it's not the right business model for that area."
We again reached out to the management company of Aspen Ridge, Frontier Senior Living. In a statement, they expressed sorrow about the recent death but did not address any of the claims made by former employees. They did say they are working with the state to ensure the safety of residents.
